Compact water softening valve structure



Oct. Z4, 1967 E. P. BRANE COMPACT WATER SOFTENING VALVE STRUCTURE Filed oct. 5 1964 Mswww- Y m Z 0. E 3 m 0 al... 0 0 m u.. l. T m1 t NB v nl UV. .s l! F a 2 m 2 L MB o v o do u 0 5 ma.. L A l r... H.. .I 1\ l 0 .1 l m y m m, .r m 1 0l sl. 5 3 uh o W m Ulm w 2 v n .1 w .M uw .52,5555llar lb u nu uf l@ w E. 5M ,U M l. w .1 M v 1V IIA 0 Il l ,nMhHhhlMnTfWhlhlfllrl/IV 7 .A 0 lb Uu D lul n w w n ma mw l o: 0 w m l 7 u 5 E 0 W 8 me @1 m. a M m o l m 9 w w m\ Hnmevs United States Patent Office 3,348,574 Patented Oct. 24, 1967 3,348,574 COMPACT WATER SOFTENING VALVE STRUCTURE Earl P. Brane, Largo, Fla., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Sta-Rite Industries, Inc., Delavan, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Oct. 5, 1964, Ser. No. 401,376 Claims. (Cl. 137-599.1)

ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE Water softening apparatus controlled by a valve arrangement which includes a pair of valve assemblies, each of which has a piston slidable in a respective drain conduit of the valve. Each piston includes a -poppct valve mounted through the piston, said poppet valve permitting flow through the poppet valve out the drain. The valve arrangement is easily assembled through the use of multiple inserts which are received in progressively larger counterbored portions and which mount the valves.

The present invention relates to Water softening apparatus and particularly to a valve for use with water softening apparatus and to certain subcombinations thereof.

Water softening systems have been in use for a number of years. Both domestic and industrial water softening systems use zeolitic materials which have the property of exchanging other ions, generally sodium, for the ca1- cium and magnesium ions present in the water. After such zeolite has been used for water softening for a period of time, it is necessary to regenerate the zeolite by an exchange reaction with common salt. Various prior art valves are available for effecting this exchange operation. These valves, however, have not in all cases proved completely satisfactory.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved valve for a water softening system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved valve arrangement.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a valve of the present type which does not require the incorporation of O rings.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a water softening valve in which no electrical parts or other drive means are necessary and in which the various valve assemblies in the valve are opened and closed by water pressure.

Related objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds,

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the water softening valve of the present invention showing it in combination with a suitable brine tank and a pressure tank.

FIG. 2 is a vertical section taken along theline 2-2 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 3 isa vertical section taken along the line 3-.3 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows.

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now bemade to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of lthe scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is provided a pressure tank 10 which is filled with the usual sodium zeolite material 11. Mounted within the pressure tank 10 is a vertically extending pipe 12 which has openings 15 adjacent to the bottom thereof. The pipe 12 is positioned centr-ally of the pressure tank 10 and is surrounded at its upper end by Ian annular coaxial section of screen wire filter 16 Which effectively segregates the zeolite away from the upper end of the tube and tank.

At the top of the pressure tank 10 there is provided an internally threaded opening 17 which threadedly receives the body 20 ofthe water softening valve 21. The pipe 12 has its upper end received in the countersink 19 of body 20. The filter 16 abuts the lower end of the body 20. In normal operation of the apparatus water passes into the pressure tank 10 around the central tube 12 downwardly through the zeolite, thence through the holes 15 in the tube and up through the tube out of the pressure tank. When it is desired to replace the sodium in the zeolite or when it is desired to backwash the zeolite, this flow is reversed so that the water or fluid moves down the tube 12 and out the holes 15 through the zeolite and up through the opening 17 outside of the tube 12. A further annular screen wire filter 22 is provided at the bottom `of the tube 12 and is fixed to` the cover 25 which closes off the lower end of the tube 15. The filters 16 and 22 function similarly to prevent the zeolite from entering the pipe and also from entering the portion `of the passage 17 surrounding the tube 12 and also to prevent sand, debris and other impurities from entering and mixing with the zeolite.

The body 20 which may be a casting includes a pair of parallel generally cylindrical openings 26 and 27 which are provided with shoulders 30, 3-1 and 32 for the seating reception of three annular inserts 35, 36 and 37. The inserts 35, 36 and 37 divide off the interior of the body 20 into five chambers 40, 41, 42, 43 and 45. It will be noted that the interior of the opening 27 is molded with a coaxial tubular portion 46 which defines the outside of the chamber 45. Exteriorly of the chamber 45 and coaxially located relative thereto is a passage 47 which opens into the third chamber 42. It can be seen that the passage 47 extends downwardly past supporting webs 50 for the tubular portion 46 thence into the pressure tank 10. Thus the passage 47 is the conduit through which the hard water normally passes into the pressure tank while the chamber 45 is the chamber through which the soft water normally passes from the pressure tank 10.

A cap 55 is secured to the body 20 by means of suitable screws 56 and is provided with a recess 57 which receives the upper edge 59 of the body 20. The cap 55 also forms a portion of the surface of the first chamber 40. The cap 5S has formed therein a drain passage 60 which opens into the fourth chamber 43. The passage 60 is made up of a pair of perpendicular bores 61 and 62 as well as a much larger bore 65 which receives an annular insert 66, the inside of the insert 66 also forming a portion of the passage 60. The body 20 is also formed with a passage 67 which includes a bore '70 opening into a much larger opening 71. Received Within the opening 71 is an insert 72, the inner surface 75 of which also forms a part of passage 67.

A first valve assembly is slidably received within the inserts 35 and 36 and extends through the insert 72 with the inserts 36 and 72 providing bearing surfaces along which the valve assembly 80 can slide. The valve assembly 80 includes a closure element 81, which is received within the second chamber 41 and which moves with the valve assembly 80 to a first position wherein the closure element 81 shuts off communication between the first and second chambers 40 and 41 and into a second position wherein the closure element 81 closes off communication assembly 86 includes a piston 82 which is received within the passage or interior opening 75 in the insert 72 and which functions to move the valve assembly 80 downwardly as viewed in FIG. 2 when the pressure in the second chamber 41 is a suflicient amount greater than the pressure within the passage 67. It should be understood that closure element 81 is fixed to the piston 82 by the connecting portions 83.

A compression spring 85 is positioned within the insert 72 and normally functions to hold the piston 82 and the valve assembly 80 in the illustrated upward position wherein the closure S1 is closing off communication between the `first chamber 4t) and the second chamber 41. Mounted within the piston S2 is a poppet valve 90 including a closure element 91 normally maintained closed by means of a spring 92 which acts between the piston 82 and the head 95 of the poppet valve. The spring 912 is suiciently strong to maintain the closure element 91 against the piston 82 and to close off Comunication between the third chamber 42 and the passage 67 until such time as the pressure within the third chamber 42 is a suliicient amount greater than than the pressure Within the passage 67 to force the piston 82 downwardly to the position wherein the closure element 81 is engaging the insert 35 and is closing off communication between the second chamber 41 and the third chamber 42.

The valve body 20 is provided with an intake opening or passage 96 through which water enters the body of the valve and passes into the second chamber 41. The outlet opening or passage of the .valve is the passage 97 which opens out of or leaves out of the fourth chamber 43. The iirst chamber 40 opens into the fourth chamber 43 at 100 A lever means 101 which extends out of the cap 55 and which has an exterior handle 102, is provided for locking the valve assembly 80 in a downward position wherein the closure element 81 closes olf the insert 35 causing all of the water entering the valve to move through the second chamber 41 into the first chamber 40 through the passage ft and chamber 43 thence out of the passage 97. It can be appreciated that the means 101 is useful to prevent unnecessary softening of large amounts of water which, for example, mioht be used for sprinkling the lawn or the like and therefore do not need to be softened.

A second valve assembly 110 is slidably received within the insert 66 and within the tubular portion 46 of the body 20. The valve assembly 110` includes a closure element 111 which is movable downwardly into the illustrated position of FIG. 2 wherein it closes off communication between the fourth chamber 43 and the lifth chamber 45. The valve assembly 110 includes a piston 112 which is slidably received within the insert 66 and which normally blocks communication between the passage 60` and the chamber 43. A poppet valve 115 is mounted within the piston 112 and incorporates a closure element 116 normally maintained closed and in engagement with the piston 112 by means of a compression spring 117 acting between the head 120 of the poppet valve 115 and the'piston 112. The spring 117 is of sufficient strength to maintain the passage through the piston 112 closed until the strength of a compression spring 121 has been overcome. That is, the compression spring 121 normally acts between the insert 66 and piston 112 to maintain the piston 112 in a downward position wherein the closure element 111 is closing off communication between the fourth and fifth chambers 43 and 45. Pressure within the pressure tank 10, however, and exiting from the tube 12 can be suflicient to overcome the strength of the spring 121 and to push the valve assembly upwardly so that the closure element 111 no longer closes off communication between the fourth and fifth chambers and so that the softened water can exit through the outlet passage 97. The poppet valve 115 will not open until the valve assembly 110' has been moved to such an upward position. Similarly to 4 valve assembly 80, the closure element 111 is fixed to the piston 112 by connecting structure 114.

Referring to FIGURE 3, there is an additional passage through the body 20 which might be termed the venturi passage and which consists of a venturi element 131 having a venturi passage 132 therethrough. The venturi element 131 is received within a counterbore 135 coaxial relative to a bore 136 also forming a part of passage 130. Passage 130 further includes a diagonal bore 137. It can be seen that the venturi passage leads from the irst chamber 4()` into the iifth chamber 45. The body 20 further includes a passage 140 which leads from a conduit 141 to the middle of the venturi element 131. The venturi element 131 has a plurality of radial passages 133 which communicate with passage 140 and lead to the center of Venturi passage 132. The passage can be closed off by rotation of the screw 142 which has a passage 143 therethrough. Rotation of the screw 142 causes the passage 143 to be turned at right angles to the passage 140 and blocks liow from the conduit 141 into the passage 140i.

A screen wire filter 145 having a cylindrical shape extends through the chamber 40` and rests upon the top of the Venturi element 131. The screen wire filter 145 can be removed and replaced by unthreading of the screw 146 threadily received within an internally threaded bore coaxial with the bore 136 and counter bore 135.

Each of the valve assemblies 86 and 110 is provided with four radially extending vanes 150 which guide the valve assembly in its axial movement and slide on the bearing surfaces of the insert 36 and the tubular portion 46 yet do not appreciably interfere with water ow. Each of the drain passages 60 and 67 has threadily connected thereto a drain conduit and 156 which merge at 157 into a drain conduit 160. The two drain conduits 155 and 156 are controlled by manual valves 161 and 162. The conduit 141 leads from the passage 140 downwardly into a brine tank 163 whereby brine can be drawn into the valve body 20 through operation of the venturi 131.

In normal softening operation, the valves 161 and 162 are closed. The passage 926 is connected to a source of hard water supply. This causes a pressure to build up upstream of the valves 161 and 162 and therefore causes the pistons 82 and 112 under the additional action of the springs 85 and 121 to move to the positions i1- lustrated in FIG. 2. The passage 97 is connected to the outlet such as, for example, the faucets of a house water system. As water is taken from the passage 97, the water pressure therein decreases while the water pressure in the passage 96 remains constant. Thus water flows from the passage 96 into the chamber 41 through the insert 35, the chamber 42, the passage 47 downwardly into the zeolite 11 in the pressure tank. The water iiows through the zeolite through the openings 15 upwardly through the tube 12 through the fifth chamber 45 and forces the valve assembly 110 to move upwardly against the urging of the compression spring 121. The softened water continues its ilow through the annular insert 37 and through the chamber 43 out of the body through the passage 97.

Assume now it is desired to recharge or regenerate the zeolite within the pressure tank 10. The first step to be performed is the backwashing or the reversing of tiow of water through the -zeolite in order to fluff the resin and to wash out all physical impurities such as accumulated dirt, sand and free iron particles a number of which will be resting inside of the filter screen 16 to a large degree. The valves 161 and 162 are opened whereby water can move through the passages 6()` and 67 out of the drain 160. The drop in pressure in the passages 60 and 67 causes the pistons 82 and 112 to be forced by the Water pressure within the valve body to positions wherein the closure element 81 closes olf communication between the chamber 41 and the chamber 42 and wherein the closure element 111 permits communication between the fth chamber 45 and the fourth chamber 43.

The water will move in from the inlet passage 96 through the chamber 41, the chamber 40, the passage 100, the chamber 43 into the chamber 4S downwardly through the tube 12 out the openings 15 through the zeolite 11 upwardly through the passage 47, through the chamber 42 through the poppet Valve 90 and out the passage 67. Of course a certain amount of the water will move from the chamber 40` into the chamber 43- and upwardly through the poppet valve 115 and the passage 60, It can be appreciated that the flow of the water through the pressure tank has been reversed and this hasbeen accomplished without the necessity of any electrical motor opening or closing valves. It should be noted that the opening of the poppet valve 90 is in a downward direction so that any accumulation of dirt or foreign matter is washed out of the top of the pressure tank through the passage 47 and out the drain 160. Preferably the piston 82 as well as the entire valve assembly 80 as wellas the valve assembly 110 are manufactured of a relatively soft plastic material which therefore permits the running of sand, grit and gravel through the valve and out the drain without any harmful effects.

The next cycle of the apparatus is the brining cycle. In order to actuate this cycle, the drain valve 161 is closed but 162 is left open. The screw 142 is turned so that its passage 145 is in line with the passage 140'. Because the poppet 115 is open, pressure on both sides of piston 112 equalizes. The increase in pressure above piston 112 causes the valve assembly 110' to move itsl closure element 111 against the insert 37. The water from the passage 96 then -fiows upwardly through the chamber 41 and the chamber 40' through the venturi passage 130 and venturi passage 132 Where brine is sucked into the g passage 132 from the passage 140 and tank 163i. The

salted water is then conducted downwardly through the tube 12 out the openings 15 and through the zeolite where the brine regenerates the zeolite and replaces the sodium ions which have been used for the water softening operation. The brine then moves upwardly through passage 47, through the chamber 42 through the poppet valve 90 and out the passage 67 and out the drain 160.

The last cycle of the regeneration operation will not be described inasmuch as it is identical to the first backwash cycle described above and involves merely another opening of the valves 161 and 162. After the second backwashing cycle has been completed, the valves 161 and 162 are closed and the pressure tank with its restored zeolite therein as well as the valve are again ready for further water softening operation.

It will be evident from the above description that the present invention provides an improved valve arrangement for use in a water softening apparatus, said valve arrangement not requiring any sort of electrical motors or like to open and close the closure elements of the valve arrangement. It will also be evident that the valve arrangement of the present invention is so designed that it is not damaged or put out of operating order by the passage of sand, grit and gravel through the valve.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims are also desired to be protected.

The invention claimed is:

1. A water softener valve comprising a housing having first, second, third, fourth and fifth chambers therein; said housing having a first drain passage leading from said third chamber externally of said Valve; a first valve assembly slidably mounted within said first, second and third chambers and said drain passage; said first valve assembly including a Valve closure element received within said second chamber and movable with said valve assembly to a first position closing off communication between said first and second chambers ,and to a second position closing olf communication between said second and third chambers; spring means acting between said housing and said valve assembly and tending to urge said Valve assembly into said first position; said valve assembly further including a piston received within said drain passage; said housing having a second drain passage leading from said fourth chamber externally of said housing and adapted for coupling to an external drain; a second valve assembly slidably mounted within said fourth and fifth chambers; said second valve assembly including a Valve closure element received within said fourth chamber and movable with said valve assembly to and from a given position closing off communication between said fourth and fifth chambers; said second valve assembly further including a piston received within said second drain passage; spring means acting between said housing and said second 'valve assembly and tending to urge said second valve assembly into said vgiven position; said housing having a water inlet passage opening into said second chamber and adapted to be connected to a water source; said housing having a water outlet passage leading out of said fourth chamber; said housing having a second passage communicating between said first chamber and said fourth chamber; said housing having a third passage leading from said third chamber externally of said valve, said third passage extending around said fifth chamber and adapted for connection to one end of a water softening tank, said fifth chamber opening externally of said valve and adapted for connection to the other end of the water softening tank, said housing having a venturi passage leading from said first chamber to said fifth chamber, and a brine supply passage opening into said venturi passage, a pair of poppet valves each mounted in a respective one of said pistons and controlling flow from said third and fourth chambers into said drain passages.

2. A water softener valve comprising a body having first, second, third, fourth and fifth chambers therein; said body having a drain passage leading from said third chamber externally of said Valve; a first valve assembly slidably mounted within said first, second and third chambers and said drain passage; said first valve assembly including a valve closure element received within said second chamber and movable with said valve assembly to a first position closing off communication between said first and second chambers and to a second position closing off communication between said second and third chambers; spring means acting between said body and said valve assembly and tending to urge said valve assembly into said first position; said valve assembly further including a piston received within said drain passage; a cap secured to said body; said cap having a drain passage leading from said fourth chamber externally of said body and adapted for coupling to an external drain; a second valve assembly 'slidably mounted within said fourth and fifth chambers; said second valve assembly including a valve closure element received within said fourth chamber and movable with said valve assembly to and from a given position closing off communication between said fourth and fifth chambers; said second valve assembly further including a piston received within said drain passage; spring means acting between said body and said second valve assembly and tending to urge said second valve assembly into said given position; said body having a water inlet passage opening into said second chamber and adapted to be connected to a water source; said body having a water outlet passage leading out of said fourth chamber; said body having a second passage communicating between said first chamber and said fourth chamber;

said body having a third passage leading from said third chamber externally of said valve, said third passage extending around said fifth chamber and adapted for connection to one end of a water softening tank, said fifth chamber opening externally of said valve and adapted for connection to the other end of the water softening tank, said body having a venturi passage yleading from said first chamber to said fifth chamber, and a brine supply passage opening into said venturi passage, a pair of poppet valves each mounted in a respective one of said pistons and controlling fiow from said third and fourth chambers into said drain passages; spring means for each poppet valve resiliently holding the respective poppet valves closed but yieldable to open the respective valves when the pressure within the respective chamber is a sufficient amount greater than the pressure within the respective passage to cause the respective piston to move the first valve assembly to said second poition and Isaid second valve assembly out of said given position.

3. A water softener valve comprising a body having first, second, third, fourth and fifth chambers therein; said body having a drain passage leading from said third chamber externally of said valve; a first valve assembly slidably mounted within said first, second and third chambers and said drain passage; said first valve assembly including a valve closure element received within said second chamber and movable with said valve assembly to a first position closing ofi communication between said first and second chambers and to a second position closing off communication between said second and third chambers; spring means acting between said body and lsaid valve assembly and tending to urge said valve assembly into said first position; said valve assembly further including a piston received within said drain passage; a cap secure-d to said body; said cap having a drain passage leading from said fourth chamber externally of said body and adapted for coupling to an external drain; a second valve assembly slidably mounted within said fourth and fifth chambers; said 'second valve assembly including a valve closure element received within said fourth chamber and movable with said valve assembly to and from a given position closing ofi` communication between said fourth and fifth chambers; said second valve assembly further including a piston received within said cap passage; spring means acting between said body and said second valve assembly and tending to urge said second valve assembly into said given position; said body having a water inlet passage opening into said second chamber and adapted to be connected to a water ource; said body having a water outlet passage leading out of said fourth chamber; said body having a second passage communicating between said first chamber and said fourth chamber; said body having a third passage leading from said third chamber externally of said valve, said third passage extending around said fifth chamber and adapted for con nection to one end of a water softening tank, said fifth chamber opening externally of said valve and adapted for connection to the other end of the water softening tank, said body having a venturi passage leading from said first 'chamber to said fifth chamber, and a brine supply passage opening into said venturi passage, a pair of poppet valves each mounted in a respective one of said ipistons and controlling flow from said third and fourth chambers into said drain passages; springmeans for each poppet valve reiliently holding the respective poppet valves closed but yieldable to open the respective valves when the pressure within the respective chamber is a sufficient amount greater than the pressure within the respective passage to cause the repective piston to move the first valve assembly to said second position and said second valve assembly out of said given position, said body having a portion which is counterbored twice coaxially to provide a first and second counterbore and to define in said body three coaxial spaces of progressively greater size, a pair of inserts one received in said first counterbore and the other in said second counterbore, said inserts defining said first, second and third chambers and slidably mounting said first valve.

4. A water softener valve comprising -a body having first and second parallel openings therethrough; a pair of annular inserts shoulder seated within one of said parallel openings along the length thereof and dividing said opening into first, second and third chambers; a third annular insert shoulder seated within said other opening and dividing said other opening into fourth and fifth chambers; said body having a drain passage leading externally of said valve; a first valve assembly slidably mounted within said pair of inserts and said drain passage; said first valve assembly including a valve closure element received within said second chamber and movable with said valve assembly to a first position closing off communication between said first and second chambers and lto a secon-d position closing off communication between said second and third chambers; spring means acting between said body and said valve assembly and tending to urge said valve assembly into said first position; said valve assembly further including a piston received within said drain passage; a cap secured to said body; said cap having a drain passage leading fr-om said fourth chamber externally of said body and a-dapted for coupling to an external drain; a second valve assembly slidably mounted within said third annular insert and said cap passage; said second valve assembly including a valve closure element received within said fourth chamber and movable with said valve assembly to and from a given position closing off communication between said fourth and fifth chambers; said second valve assembly further including a piston received Within said drain passage; spring means acting between said body and said second valve assembly and tending to urge said second valve assembly into said given position; said body having a water inlet passage opening into said second chamber and adapted to be connected to a water source; said body having a water outlet passage leading out of said fourth chamber; said body having a second passage communicating between said first chamber and said fourth chamber; manually operable means for holding said first valve assembly in said second position whereby closed communication is established from said water inlet passage through said secon-d chamber, first chamber, second passage, fourth chamber and said outlet passage; said body having a third passage leading from said third chamber externally of said valve, said third passage extending around said fifth chamber and adapted for connection to one end of a water softening tank, said fifth chamber opening externally of said valve and adapted for connection to the other end of the water softening tank, said body having a venturi lpassage leading from said first chamber to said fifth chamber and a brine supply passage opening into said venturi passage; a pair of poppet valves each mounted in a respective one of said pistons and controlling flow from said third and fourth chambers into said drain passage; spring means for each poppet valve resiliently holding the respective poppet valves closed but yieldable to open the respective valves when the pressure within the respective chamber is a sufficient amount greater than the pressure within the respective passage to cause the respective piston to move the first valve assembly to said second position and said second valve assembly out of said given position.

5. A water softener valve comprising a body having first and second parallel openings therethrough; a pair of annular inserts shoulder seated within one of said parallel openings along the length thereof and dividing said opening into first, second and third chambers; a third annular insert shoulder seated within said other opening and dividing said other opening into fourth and fifth chambers; said body having a drain passage below said third chamber leading downwardly externally of said valve; a first valve assembly slidably mounted within said pair of inserts and said drain passage; said first valve assembly including a valve closure element received within said second chamber and movable with said valve assembly to a first position closing off communication between said first and second chambers and to a second position closing off communication between said second and third chambers; spring means acting -between said body and said valve assem-bly and tending to urge said valve assembly into said -iirst position; said valve assembly further including a piston received within said drain passage; a cap secured to said body; said cap having a drain passage leading from said fourth chamber externally of said body and adapted for coupling to an external drain; a second valve assembly slidably mounted within said third annular insert and said cap passage; said second valve assembly including a valve closure element received within said fourth chamber an-d movable with said valve assembly to and from a given position closing ofi communication between said fourth and fifth chambers; said second valve assembly further including a piston received within said drain passage; spring means acting between said -body and said second valve assembly and tending to urge said second valve assembly into said given-position; said body having a water inlet passage opening into said second chamber and adapted to be connected to a water source; said body having a Water outlet passage leading out of said fourth chamber; said body having a second passage communicating between said iirst chamber and said fourth chamber; manually operable means for holding said first valve assembly in said second position whereby closed communication is established from said water inlet passage through said second chamber, iirst chamber, second passage, fourth chamber and said outlet passage; said body having a third passage leading from said third chamber externally of said valve, said third passage extending around said fifth chamber and adapted for connection to one end of a water softening tank, said fifth chamber opening externally of said valve and adapted for connection to the other end of the water softening tank, said body having a venturi passage leading from said rst chamber to said fifth chamber, and a brine supply passage opening into said venturi passage, a pair of poppet valves each mounted in a respective one of said pistons and controlling ow from said third and fourth chambers into said drain passages; said poppet valve for said iirst piston opening downwardly whereby sand and other par-ticles can be flushed out the body drain passage through said first piston poppet valve; spring means for each poppet valve resiliently holding the respective poppet valves closed ibut yiel-dable to open the respective valves when the pressure within the respective chamber is a suicient amount greater than the pressure within the respective passage to cause the respective piston to move the iirst valve assembly to said second position and said second valve assembly out of said given position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,671,509 3/1954 Johnston 137-625.38 X 2,816,563 12/1957 Pappas IS7- 572.2 X 2,830,784 4/ 1958 Placette 251 14 3,019,817 2/1962 Whitlock 210-191 X 3,208,476 9/1965 Clack 137-599.1

WILLIAM F. ODEA, Primary Examiner.

D. H. LAMBERT, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A WATER SOFTENER VALVE COMPRISING A HOUSING HAVING FIRST, SECOND, THIRD, FOURTH AND FIFTH CHAMBERS THEREIN; SAID HOUSING HAVING A FIRST DRAIN PASSAGE LEADING FROM SAID THIRD CHAMBER EXTERNALLY OF SAID VALVE; A FIRST VALVE ASSEMBLY SLIDABLY MOUNTED WITHIN SAID FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD CHAMBERS AND SAID DRAIN PASSAGE; SAID FIRST VALVE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A VALVE CLOSURE ELEMENT RECEIVED WITHIN SAID SECOND CHAMBER AND MOVABLE WITH SAID VALVE ASSEMBLY TO A FIRST POSITION CLOSING OFF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND CHAMBERS AND TO A SECOND POSITION CLOSING OFF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID SECOND POSITHIRD CHAMBERS; SPRING MEANS ACTING BETWEEN SAID HOUSING AND SAID VALVE ASSEMBLY AND TENDING TO URGE SAID VALVE ASSEMBLY INTO SAID FIRST POSITION; SAID VALVE ASEMBLY FURTHER INCLUDING A PISTON RECEIVED WITHIN SAID DRAIN PASSAGE; SAID HOUSING HAVING A SECOND DRAIN PASSAGE LEADING FROM SAID FOURTH CHAMBER EXTERNALLY OF SAID HOUSING AND ADAPTED FOR COUPLING TO AN EXTERNALLY DRAIN; A SECOND VALVE ASSEMBLY SLIDABLY MOUNTED WITHIN SAID FOURTH AND FIFTH CHAMBERS; SAID SECOND VALVE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A VALVE CLOSURE ELEMENT RECEIVED WITHIN SAID FOURTH CHAMBER AND MOVABLE WITH SAID VALVE ASSEMBLY TO AND FROM A GIVEN POSITION CLOSING OFF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID FOURTH AND FIFTH CHAMBERS; SAID SECOND VALVE ASSEMBLY FURTHER INCLUDING A PISTON RECEIVED WITHIN SAID SECOND DRAIN PASSAGE; SPRING MEANS ACTING BETWEEN SAID HOUSING AND SAID SECOND VALVE ASSEMBLY AND TENDING TO URGE SAID SECOND VALVE ASSEMBLY INTO SAID GIVEN POSITION; SAID HOUSING HAVING A WATER INLET PASSAGE OPENING INTO SAID SECOND CHAMBER AND ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED TO A WATER SOURCE; SAID HOUSING HAVING A WATER OUTLET PASSAGE LEADING OUT OF SAID FOURTH CHAMBER; SAID HOUSING HAVING A SECOND PASSAGE COMMUNICATING BETWEEN SAID FIRST CHAMBER AND SAID FOURTH CHAMBER; SAID HOUSING HAVING A THIRD PASSAGE LEADING FROM SAID THIRD CHAMBER EXTERNALLY OF SAID VALVE, SAID THIRD PASSAGE EXTENDING AROUND SAID FIFTH CHAMBER AND ADAPTED FOR CONNECTION TO ONE END OF A WATER SOFTENING TANK, SAID FIFTH CHAMBER OPENING EXTERNALLY OF SAID VALVE AND ADAPTED FOR CONNECTION TO THE OTHER END OF THE WATER SOFTENING TANK, SAID HOUSING HAVING A VENTURI PASSAGE LEADING FROM SAID FIRST CHAMBER TO SAID FIFTH CHAMBER, AND A BRINE SUPPLY PASSAGE OPENING INTO SAID VENTURI PASSAGE, A PAIR OF POPPET VALVES EACH MOUNTED IN A RESPECTIVE ONE OF SAID PISTONS AND CONTROLLING FLOW FROM SAID THIRD AND FOURTH CHAMBERS INTO SAID DRAIN PASSAGES. 